“I feel the same way about my mother.”
Marigold started babbling in Greydon’s arms and he chuckled. “It would appear that Marigold has something that she wants to say.”
“She always has something she wants to say,” Enid said. “She is quite vocal, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
The nursemaid stepped forward and announced, “It is time for Miss Marigold’s breakfast.”
Greydon handed Marigold off to Marie’s waiting arms.
As the nursemaid walked off towards the townhouse, Greydon said, “You have a beautiful daughter.”
“I think so, but I am biased.”
“It is all right to be biased when it is your own.”
Enid put her hand out towards the path and asked, “Shall we take a stroll in the gardens?”
“I would like nothing more,” Greydon replied as he offered his arm.
She placed her hand on his arm and allowed him to start leading her down the path. A silence came over them, but it was a comfortable silence, one that only forms when two people are content with one another.
Greydon glanced over at her. “How are you faring today?”
“I am well,” she replied. “I am not sure if I told you but my father is trying to make an effort to be civil with me.”
“That is a good thing. Is it not?”
“It is, but it is proving to be rather difficult for my father,” Enid replied. “We have been at odds for so long.”
“It doesn’t mean he isn’t capable of change.”
Enid bobbed her head. “If you’d said that a few days ago, I would have disagreed with you, but now…” Her voice trailed off. “He is afraid of me leaving and taking Marigold with me.”
“Where would you go?” Greydon asked.
With a slight shrug of her shoulders, Enid replied, “I have enough funds to buy a cottage and live my days in the countryside.”
Greydon came to a stop on the path and turned towards her, his boots grinding on the gravel. “Is that what you want?”
Enid blew out a puff of air. “Quite frankly, I don’t know what I want, but I just want Marigold to be surrounded by people that love her.”
“Isn’t that what you have now?”
“It is, but I grow tired of my father criticizing every choice I make.”
Greydon gave her a knowing look. “There is another solution; an obvious one, if you ask me,” he said. “You could always marry me.”
“But what of your reputation?” Enid asked.
“What of it?”
Enid bit her lower lip. “It would suffer if you married me.”
“Have I not proven to you that I care more about you than my silly reputation?”
“It isn’t silly—”
He spoke over her. “It is to me,” he said. “I love you more with every breath that I take.”
